Quiet Friday

 There were enough vollies and I got there early and coped with the poo bags. When you open the door to the verandah there are none left of the great pile that took up almost all of the floor space. But, that is deceptive. There are poo bags behind the door. They are the oldest ones from the bottom of the pile and should be taken away first, please.

We didn't have any visitors. Angel's person came yesterday to adopt her and will pick her up on Sunday as planned.

So I had time to let cats wander and to take photos of Katie's cats. . . . just in case Katie would like to see their happy faces.

Luna has the celestial condo where she happily hides

Nala is below her where she can chat to all passers-by

Frank is at knee level so when he looks up you can see he amazing blue eyes

Dolly and

Zane are next door

Mali used to have a boarding Burmese upstairs. It is quieter without the boarder.

Kimmy doesn't mind the noise. She makes enough of her own.

Cleo is regally quiet.

But Sundae is anybody's for a pat.

Josie's 2 kittens are fine. She is an attentive mum and has learned very quickly that mums get more food.

Sabrina's kittens were in the play place. The tabbies/white ones are friendly and playful.

Sabrina's tabbys

But the black and white ones are hiding. And in the Nursery/isolation they were the ones (or one of them was the one) who always screamed "FEED ME" at the window whenever somebody looked at him/her. Now look at them!

hiding

Sabrina has been separated from them to wean them. They are out of ringworm quarantine. 

Betty is struggling along with her seven and lack of appetite. Chicken helped this afternoon. So I left a bunch for her and some cats missed out (but not Lola who follows me around).

Betty polishing off chicken while her line of kittens snoozes

Neat morning, messy afternoon

When I arrived at noon there was a family with two small children after a kitten. They chose Kimmy (and vice versa). Then the woman and her daughter who wanted Kimmy on Sunday came in after getting permission from her landlord to have a cat. While Irene was checking out Kimmy, they decided that Chilli really was the better choice for them. They are Spanish speakers and will change his name to something unpronouncable. She has had cats forever so knows what to do. While I checked out Chilli, Irene introduced a woman to all the quiet cats in residence. She had a problem choosing between Soxy and Marmalade. And finally chose . . . . . MARMALADE!

She paid her money and went away without him but promised to be back. She came back at 3:30 having set up her house with everything that he will need . . . . lots of hiding places initially. But we think that they will be a good match. They are both quiet, aloof, self contained folk just aching for somebody to love. And then Robyn came in and talked to Tim about Belle's condition and dietary needs. While she was doing this (and Irene was processing Marmalade) I introduced a woman and her two teenaged sons who really had wanted Kimmy, or a Kimmy-like semi-long haired kitten. I introduced her to the longish haired ones in Incoming. We think that Petite and Norma are the longer haired girls. And then to the delicately grey Lucy and the longer haired of her brothers in Mia and Bella's stand alone. I suspect that the boys will go for Lucy because she will be ready earlier. They are desexed. They just need a vet check and microchip whereas the ones in Incoming need to be there for another week and then go through the vet check, etc. Those boys need a kitten while they are in lockdown to replace the much beloved cat who died last year. They want a longish haired cat because their old cat was. But they don't want a matted cat. I tried to convince them that if they start brushing the kitten while it is young, the cat will enjoy being brushed all its life. I suppose this is true.

They certainly like to cuddle up together. Robyn and I processed Belle and she went home with Robyn. I thought it was warm at Safe Haven today but the cats didn't. Ginger and Lechusa shared a box.

Now that we have spare condos, we have assigned separate condos for Bobby and Doel. While they came as a bonded pair, they have been quarrelling all day. They have gingivitis so are on TD's. A better solution is daily brushing, of their teeth. What's the chance of that while they are cross with each other?

No news

I still have the cold so didn't go to Safe Haven today. There were no adoptions recorded on the calendar. So I will just share a couple of Joy's photos. Lillian is really interested in food these days. But distrusts people still.

Kate and Kimmy (Kendra's last pair) should get adopted this weekend.

I understand more cats were due into Incoming but know no details. Perhaps Irene could do a guest post tomorrow.

Musical condos

Stop the music when Prue is exhausted. Because Pearl went to the vet this afternoon, Irene, with Tim's approval, instituted a major move of cats. All those who are available are out front, those who need more time are out back and only boarders are in Boarding, except for Kendra. Kendra and her kittens are on special diets. Kimmy was very flat today so was put into the sick bay in the outer office. She yelled so loudly that they brought Kate to keep her company. It perked Kimmy up.

The person who adopted Sage came back and adopted Sugar as well. How sensible is that! And a nice man came in looking for a black and white cat (not a kitten) and was talked into Sammy. So two wheely cages were free. I moved Roscoe into Sammy's and Whiskey and Socksie into Sage's. They were delighted to be out of the outer office. And first thing they did was to introduce themselves to their neighbours. Later Steph came, with lashings of litter, and spent lots of time giving them all cuddles which was exactly what they (both 2 and 4 leggeds) all needed.

And Coco the 11 year old Burmese arrived. She is in Celeste's condo. I don't know where Celeste is . . . . I hope in a foster home. Strange that we have two Burmese cats in residence and they are both called Coco. This Coco will not be with us for long, is my guess.

I moved Baxter into Roscoe's condo. Pearl went into Baxter's condo out back when she got home from the vets. I moved Misty into Pearl's condo and then Romeo and Juliette into Misty's condo (that was an exciting job as Romeo decided not to be picked up but did a runner from the carry cage that I had enticed him into with chicken. He ran into Myuki's condo mid sterilization and I cornered him into the carrier to deliver him to his girlfriend. Neither seemed very thrilled.) A lovely couple came and adopted Mako. He was posted on Facebook and Instagram and created a positive storm of interest. The new owners are experienced with shy cats and I think he will settle well with them. I moved Myuki into Mako's condo and then Anthony and Cleopatra into Myuki's condo. In between each move the condos were sterilized, of course. I am knackered. But I did manage to update all the sheets that tell which cat is where.

Valentines Day

Kimmy was duly picked up this afternoon. Her new person seems very nice. And his friend will come to us when she needs another cat. I suggested that she get one now so that her old cat could have a companion in her old age. . . . .  worth a try!

Kimmy

Earlier somebody adopted Melody. She will be picked up soon. I feel this is a good omen for her four kittens who should all get homes tomorrow.

Melody (wants out)

Because all the stand alone cages will be needed tomorrow, I sterilized Kimmy's condo as soon as she left it so that Eve could move there. Eve has the habit of swiping vollies. I have been smooching up to her on the other side of her bars. So when it was time to move her, I rolled her stand alone to Kimmy's condo, opened the doors and Eve jumped in. Easy-peasy. . . .  not so happy Evie!

Evie

The D litter is all ready to go: Diana, Dale and Danielle. I don't know who is which. The girl who was desexed yesterday got a huge fright when she discovered that she had a collar on and both her legs were through the neck bit and the collar was chasing her around the condo. It is amazing how much noise one panicked kitten can make! Tim sorted her out but it took quite a while for her tail to collapse from 2 ins in diameter to normal (half an inch).

The C kittens love their new spacious condo. I started to clean their old one but . . . . I left it to soak another day, or two.

Caleb and Cooper

Penny is more interested in what is going on.

Penny

And Bonnie asked for pats. She has come such a long way

Bonnie

 On the home front: I was given a hand woven shawl that I didn't think that a person would use but perhaps a cat might like to snuggle up to. So I got out the overlocker to sew off the fringe (no use to man or beast). And Cody came to say "It is mine. You may NOT take it to Safe Haven".

Cody

It is in his cat cave. At about 7am this morning he exchanged words/yowls with a rotund calico. He was inside: she was in his back yard. I haven't seen her before. Perhaps she is on holiday in Avalon?

Goodbye Charlie

Charlie was picked up over the weekend. And Kimmy will be picked up on Feb 14. Let's hope that she is just the first of may

Kimmy

 Wendell moved into Charlie's condo. He really liked the scratchy pole that we put in to stop him scratching the mesh. And the tennis ball. And the soft toy. He reminds me of Cody so is probably just a big kitten.

Wendell

Joy took photos of some of the kittens. This is the mixed litter: Dale, Danny and Diana but we don't know who is which.

Dale, Danny, Diana

Dale, Danny, Diana

Eden and Emily

Eden and Emily now occupy a stand alone cage: much more viewable. There is a series of desex ops scheduled for this and next week so tell everybody who wants one that we have kittens just in time for the end of the school holidays.

A couple from Artarmon brought in a pretty grey kitten who they found wandering the neighbourhood. They doorknocked all around but couldn't find the owner. They phoned Dr Kim who has our number on her answering machine. They brought the kitten to us to see if it has a microchip. It doesn't. They took it home again because a neighbour said "I'll have it". My guess is that the kitten saw the kids go off to school and followed but couldn't find a way home. 

Spit and polish

I did go to SH last Friday but the camera was out of battery so I didn't blog. The situation is the same today. We are in emergency clean up and sterilise mode. Wesley and Winston (the two strays who came in with their sister Tammy) developed feline panleucopenia  which demonstrates that they had never been vaccinated against this virus. They died despite Tim's efforts. Tammy is still OK. She doesn't have any symptoms yet. But we have lots of other cats who haven't yet been vaccinated, including all the kittens.

So very strict protocols have been introduced including new gloves for every condo, bleach for wiping down condos, chuck the Chux, F10 the worker between each cat, no unnecessary handling of the cats, not cats playing around the place, bleach swabbing of floors. It should only have to be this strict for two weeks until all possibility of lingering viruses are eliminated. Then we can get back to normal.

Today there were lots of volunteers which made the work get done in time for Tim to have a couple of hours off in the middle of the day early afternoon.

The boarders are all well (so far). There are some gorgeous cats.

Poor Jimmy couldn't go for his usual wander.

Jimmy

And Kimmy was not pleased not to get her usual cuddles.

Kimmy

Candace is looking better and she can breathe through her nose  at last. Her two surviving kittens are doing well.

Candace

Penny hadn't eaten anything for 2 days but managed to scoff her breakfast today.

Penny

And Eve wants out.

Eve

Enough excitement for one day

It started quietly enough with Joy wrangling kittens out the back and me cleaning the welfare cats. 

We had finished all but the three wild ones who Tim brought from Lauren's. They were supposed to be "sweet" when given to us, but either the process has been upsetting for them or the donors lied. Or perhaps they didn't like the names chosed for them: Winston (ginger), Wesley and Tammy. They were in the condo below Scarlett as a hissing, spitting trio. Tim decided that they should be separated to give them a chance to be socialized. We set up sheets as barriers to make a straight path to the condo where Shivers was. Tim donned his gauntlets. Tim grabbed the cat he wanted but Tammy hightailed it to freedom.

Silly girl chose to bolt behind the condo block adjacent to the ghastly wall art. Sienna had tried that before so Tim had a method involving a broom. We again set up "barriers" of blankets and sheets to direct her to the nearest condo. The broom was inserted and the cat shot straight out and up the huge climbing tree. Luckily I was standing beside it and grabbed her and threw her into the condo. It was over in two seconds. No blood was drawn. My heart beat fast for five minutes. 

So the ferals are sorted. They will soon be tamed by tender words, food and love.

Next door (below Kimmy) are four little kittens and their mother who hides under the bed. The kittens are friendly. Charlie was prepared to play footsies with one of them.

Charlie

Joy played with another

 Smokey was surrendered this morning. She walked out of her carry case into the condo but would not say goodbye nicely  to her person. There was a clash with a dog at home. I doubt she will be with us for long.

Smokey

Samantha was very keen to be patted so I decided to wipe the gunk from her eyes. She didn't like my choice of cloth so I had to do it with my fingers which I washed three times and F10'd throughly. Candace is full of flu. But her kittens don't seem to be infected.

Royal Visit

Tim visited Prince and Rajah. He reports that they are happy and more comfortable. They were in the same area as the rather wild kittens that Tim went to pick up. While the kittens were being chased and caught they ran right over Prince and Rajah in their bed. The regal oldies were not disturbed.

I didn't see the new kittens as we were three to clean up this morning. I took advantage of the extra time to give Kimmy, Kitty and Scarlet a thorough brushing. They loved it. And were much calmer after the extra attention. Perhaps all that loose hair itches or wriggles.

Kitty and her ex coat

We have a new three year old. Narla is very like my Puffin but is completely black. Puffin was grey near her skin.. . . not that I got close enough to part Narla's coat.

Narla

Shivers has his collar off and seems much brighter. The vet is happy to leave his lumpy tummy alone for the moment. Another, wait and see what happens case. Just like Peanuts. The vet can't decide whether he has been desexed but not microchipped (unlikely) or has two undescended testicles (very unlikely). So we will wait and see. Peanuts also enjoyed the extra attention I gave him. So much so that I trimmed his nails because lots of loving is never enough and he tends to hold on tight if you try to move away from him. (No photo because he doesn't look any less cream and black rather than white and black. He still needs a bath).

Shivers

Still here

Gypsie is on hold until her new person/family gets all the things that she will need delivered via the Internet. What she really needs it to be in a loving home. . . forget the accessories. . . . cuddles will do.

Gypsie

There is a tentative date to pick her up on Oct 30. 
In the meantime, she enjoyed her grass munching. 

I get the feeling on Friday afternoons after Sandy has done a splendid job cleaning everybody up, that the cats see me as a grass distribution mole. Blossom leads the chorus. She has a brush in her condo. While she ate her grass, I brushed two full brushloads of fur from her.

Blossom and brush

 The chorus of "Me, me, meow" by the Kitty/Kimmy/Scarlet chorus does not quite overpower the Charlie MEEEEEEEEEE.

Bailey was more interested in smooching than anything else. And Little Ging loves grass but is not still sure that people are worthwhile. His sister, Diva is all about the cuddles.

Peanuts is slowly getting to be a black and white cat rather than a cream and black cat. If we gave him a bath he would achieve tuxedo status quicker. Anybody want to give a cat a bath?

Peanuts

Jewell is very vocal. Tim and I decided that she is on heat. . . . AGAIN

Jewell

Liz away, we have fun

Liz was away today and there were five volunteers to try to replace her.

She missed the fun of the arrival of our latest litter. A friend of SafeR has been feeding a pair of kittens in Brookvale. She realized that one was about to have a litter so put out a dog carrier and feed her in there. This morning the cat was finally in the carrier when she arrived (the cat was in the process of having her babies!). So she shut the door and high tailed it to Safe Haven.
As soon as the carrier door was opened to put the mum into a condo, she hightailed it to the top of the condos, well out of reach. We didn't take long to "guide" her back to her babies. There are four of them. Mostly black with some white touches (just like Mum).They are well disguised in this photo:

 Across the aisle, Kitty, Scarlet and Kimmy were fascinated.
PS. The mini mama I picked up in Blacktown and delivered to Avalon, has had her litter. There were five. One didn't make it. She is being a very protective mum.

By the time these day old babies are as old as Jewell's bubs, they will have their own condo too. They are three boys and a girl. The girl is the clear eyed tabby. All the boys let me pick them up and turn them over to tickle their tummies. She wasn't having a bar of that!

(We should have a naming competition: Jasper, Jett, Mica, Ruby?)

Meanwhile, Jake (the spraying cat) has had his undescended testicle removed. No wonder the poor boy was acting like an entire male. . . he was one (or, more accurately, half of one). He had been medicated against his natural chemistry.  Already after his operation, he has settled down: no more calling, mounting and very little, not so smelly spraying. Let's hope that he has a chemical free future.

Jake